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Meagre: how is it caught, and what is the minimum size?
Known by two names on the Turkish coast, the meagre is recorded in all four seas in our catalog and is at its best all year round. Its minimum size is 25 cm.
The fish recorded in our catalog as meagre (Argyrosomus regius) — granyöz in Turkish — is what most anglers on the Turkish coast call sarıağız; Communiqué No. 2024/21 also names the species “Sarıağız (Halili, Muskar, Grenyüz)”. It is a marine and brackish-water fish from the family Sciaenidae, and its recorded habitat is river mouths and sandy bottoms.
One fish, two Turkish names
Both names mean the same fish. The species’ local names field lists “Sarıağız” and “Granyöz” together; on the site the species page is filed under meagre.
Do not go by the name alone: the catalog also has an entirely different species, the yellowmouth barracuda (Sphyraena viridensis), whose Turkish name is “sarıağız baraküda”, and the name “granyöz” turns up in five separate species. What tells them apart is the Latin name — Argyrosomus regius.
Which seas, which months?
There is a sea entry in all four Turkish seas: the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara, the Aegean and the Mediterranean. The peak months column reads all year in all four, so with this species there is no opening month to wait for.
The number of fishing grounds linked to the species is 374. That is the number of spots where the meagre is recorded; it does not mean it is sure to show at every one of them.
Bait and technique
The recorded technique in all four seas is surf casting; the species profile also lists spinning and trolling. The natural baits are squid, cuttlefish and live mullet; the lures, large soft plastics and minnows. One more bait is recorded in common in all four seas: sülünez.
The supporting regional baits change from sea to sea:
| Sea | Regional supporting bait |
|---|---|
| Sea of Marmara | anchovy, horse mackerel, shrimp |
| Aegean | sardine, mamun, sülünez |
| Mediterranean | sardine, squid, shrimp |
The Black Sea row has the technique and sülünez, but its natural bait and lure fields are empty. If you are fishing there, the only data you have is the list for the other three seas.
Minimum size and daily limit
In recreational fishing the minimum size for the meagre is 25 cm and the daily quantity you may keep 5 kg. Release any fish under that size; keep a tape measure with you, because by eye you cannot tell 23 cm from 25 cm.
Legal basis: Communiqué No. 2024/21, Table 7. The sizes for every species are on the minimum fish sizes page, and the article what is a minimum size explains why the measurement matters so much.
There is no species-specific closed season: the regulations set no time ban for the meagre. The area and method rules still apply, and the species that are closed to fishing altogether are a separate list — which fish are closed to fishing.
The species profile, the sea-by-sea month table and the frequently asked questions are on the meagre species page; you can see the 374 recorded grounds on the map with the meagre filter.
The size and quantity information is taken from the communiqué of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The communiqué can change; for definite information consult the text in force.
